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Toyota FJ Cruiser bitter sweet farewell

Toyota announced this week that its FJ Cruiser – a retro-styled off-roader that harkens back to the original FJ40 – will end production in August. It’s been on sale here since 2011, where it’s attracted a loyal following. Are we sad to see it go? Anna Kantilaftas and Barry Park argue the toss.

Toyota FJ Cruiser
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BARRY: Toyota’s FJ Cruiser has been a bit of a strange fit for Australia, don’t you think? I mean look at it: squashed Tonka toy looks, and with a thirsty petrol V6 under the bonnet in a country where vista-sweeping glasshouses and diesels rule.

ANNA: I love that it dares to be different. Ok, maybe it’s not the most practical 4x4 but it stands out from a crowd that’s otherwise a lot of sameness. Once you navigate around the chunky design, the FJ holds itself with a no-nonsense, uncomplicated toughness. Plus, who wouldn’t want to drive an adult-size Tonka?

Toyota FJ Cruiser
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BARRY: You’re not wrong about chunky. That dash alone looks as though it was inspired by one of those rough-and-ready worksite radios. Still, you’re right about toughness. We took one across the Simpson Desert. What have you done with it?

ANNA: The low roof and fat pillars did make it a bit scary to drive at times - more blind spots than a Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles punch-up. The FJ Cruiser was my safety net at a four-wheel drive training course back when I was staff journo at 4X4 Australia. It was the first car I ever reviewed. And, I drove it across one of my favourite places in Australia the first time I travelled there - Fraser Island. So maybe I’m a bit sentimental. How did it cope in the Simpson? Did you make it up Big Red?

Toyota FJ Cruiser
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BARRY: Yep, over Big Red and the 1100 dunes past that. It didn’t skip a beat, although that 3.5-litre V6 likes a drink so we had to pack a few spare jerry cans, and even then it made it into the station at the western end of the desert running on fumes. The FJ Cruiser added a bigger tank to add more range as part of a mid-life update, which has helped. I have to say, I felt a real disconnect with the alien, sand-blown landscape we drove through, as the FJ was so well insulated from the outside world. Did you get that as well?

ANNA: It’s pretty barren out there anyway, there’s not a whole lot to see. Only joking. I can understand the disconnected feeling - The cosy cabin and stumpy windows wouldn’t have helped. Although, I don’t think I spent a second in the FJ without my windows down. Easy to do when you’re driving anywhere other than the fly-plagued Simpson Desert I guess. Imagine how horrible it would be for anyone travelling in the backseats? Carsick alert!

Toyota FJ Cruiser
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BARRY: Yeah, that really narrow glasshouse makes the back seat feel a bit claustrophobic, and if you do feel crook, that suicide rear door won’t open until someone has cracked the front one. Will you miss it once it’s gone? I mean, it was great off road, but could you really live with it in the city? I couldn’t.

ANNA: I won’t lie - those blind spots had me sweaty palmed around the city. But am I sad to see it go? I’ve shared too many fond memories of the FJ Cruiser to say no. After all, you know what they say about your first!

Anna KantilaftasAnna is a journalist for WhichCar and Wheels.

Barry ParkBarry is a senior journalist for WhichCar and Wheels.

Anna Kantilaftas
Barry Park

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